Concerns over the state of a bridge which appears riven with widening cracks after last week’s flooding were first raised more than two years ago, it has emerged.

The Brighouse Bridge on Huddersfield Road over the River Calder is said to have several cracks which local people have warned appear to be getting bigger.

They say problems have been more evident since the torrential rain last week which led to the partial collapse of Elland bridge.

There are now growing fears over the state of Brighouse Bridge which is a main route in Brighouse and is used by buses and heavy vehicles.

Problems became apparent more than two years ago and barriers were put in place, stopping people walking along a footpath over the bridge and forcing them to walk on the edge of the road.

Cracks in Brighouse Bridge over River Calder, Huddersfield Road, Brighouse.

After the barriers had been in place for months one resident, Richard Langford, became so concerned he asked Calderdale Council via a Freedom of Information request last May for the results of a structural survey into the state of the bridge carried out in 2013.

The survey showed there were cracks in masonry arches and settlement cracks which were extending upwards.

Read more: Flooding - Brighouse Arrow Coach Company rocked by up to £40,000 worth of damage

It said a wall and gully drainage system required attention and corrosion was visible to steel beams.

Watch footage from the devastating Boxing Day floods in Brighouse below.

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Mr Langford said: “I am not an expert on bridges, but the barriers were there for so long that it seemed there must be a problem.

“The response from the council was that they would deal with it at some point.”

He said he had noticed a crack at the side of the bridge some time ago, but had not noticed other cracks near the centre until after the flooding.

He lived in Brighouse until last year before moving to Elland and drove over Elland bridge just hours before it partially collapsed last week.

The collapsed road surface at Elland Bridge

Residents in Brighouse say the recent flooding has made the situation with the bridge critical, with one saying it “desperately needs attention now before something tragic occurs.”

Calderdale Council has played down fears and, in a tweet, a spokesman said: “We’ve inspected Huddersfield Road bridge in Brighouse which is safe to use.”

Meanwhile, concerns are mounting over Elland Bridge with the authorities fearing the damage could be even worse than first thought.

Read more: Elland Bridge collapse may take months for repairs — and it will cost millions

The bridge is owned by the Canal and River Trust and the organisation, a charity, has warned it only has limited resources. Trust chiefs will be looking to work with Calderdale Council and the Government and a spokesman said: “We will be looking at all the options available to us this week and next.”